Star Wars: The Force Awakens Stormed the Box Office with an Estimated $238 Million
Star Wars: The Force Awakens stormed the box office and walked away with an estimated $238 million in its first three days domestically (including $57 million in Thursday night "previews") along with another $279 million internationally for a massive $517 million worldwide opening. Suffice to say, this shatters the domestic box office opening weekend record of $208.8 million set byJurassic World earlier this year, but the record-breaking doesn't end there.
In just its first day of release, The Force Awakens brought in an estimated $120.5 million setting a new record for the largest Friday, opening day and single day. All on its own, that opening day was also enough to break the previous December opening weekend record of $84.62 million set by The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in 2012. Additionally, the film now holds the following domestic records:
Largest Thursday Previews: $57 million* Previous Record: $43.5 million (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2)
Largest Friday, Opening Day, Single Day: $120.5 million (estimated) Previous Record: $91 million (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2)
Domestic Opening Weekend: $238 million (estimate) Previous Record: $208.8 million (Jurassic World)
Highest Per Theater Average (Wide Opening): $57,571 (estimate) Previous Record: $48,855 / 4,274 theaters (Jurassic World)
Top Opening Weekend for PG-13 Rated Film: $238 million (estimate) Previous Record: $208.8 million (Jurassic World)
Top Holiday Opening Weekend**: $238 million (estimate) Previous Record: $158 million (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire)
Biggest Weekend Overall (Top 12 Gross): $294.5 million Previous Record: $266 million (June 12-14, 2015)
Biggest December Weekend (Top 12 Gross): $294.5 million Previous Record: $259.9 million (Dec 25-27, 2009)
December Single Day: $120.5 million (estimated) Previous Record: $37.13 million (The Hobbit An Unexpected Journey)
Widest December Opening: 4,134 theaters Previous Record: 4,045 theaters (The Hobbit An Unexpected Journey)
December Opening Weekend: $238 million (estimate) Previous Record: $84.62 million (The Hobbit An Unexpected Journey)
Fastest to $100 Million: 1 Day Previous Record: 2 Days (Jurassic World)
Global IMAX Opening Record: $48 million Previous Record: $44.1 million (Jurassic World)
Domestic IMAX Opening Record: $30.1 million Previous Record: $20.9 million (Jurassic World)
*The Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 record included midnight-only screenings while Force Awakens screenings began at 7 PM on Thursday and included Star Wars marathon ticket sales, tickets that were sold for as much as $59.99 each. **Holiday is defined as the first Friday in November through New Year's week or weekend.